As our lives get more complicated, and our homes and businesses get bigger and demand more time, many people are turning to personal assistants to help them manage it all. Once strictly the domain of the rich and famous, personal assistants today help busy families manage schedules and give their employers time to enjoy life. While the duties of a personal assistant vary from job to job, there are some things that are usually included, such as managing schedules and planning events. Are you a detail-oriented person looking for a new career? A personal-assistant job might just be right for you.

What is a Personal Assistant?A personal assistant, sometimes called a “private service professional,” is someone who helps the members of a family manage their lives. They take care of many of the small details that make up so much of day-to-day living, from picking up the dry cleaning to organizing a birthday dinner for 50. Because the needs of each employer are unique, the job descriptions tend to be less rigid, with “special requests” a regular component of the job. Many times, personal assistants will be asked to plan, and sometimes attend, family vacations, buy gifts and oversee the home office and household bills. Because the job is generally not 9 to 5, a good personal assistant should be available at almost any hour of the day or night. Being a self-starter is important – a personal assistant doesn’t have to be a mind-reader, but he or she should be able to act without detailed directions.

How to Hire a Personal AssistantIf you think a personal assistant would be a helpful addition to your household, there are a few steps you should take. First, you should list the duties that you would like the personal assistant to perform. These often include:

*Scheduling appointments for every member of the family. Personal assistants will often place refill orders and pick up medications at the pharmacy.

*Maintaining both the family and personal calendars of the employer.

*Making travel arrangements for both business and pleasure travel. If the employer has a vacation home, the assistant can often open the home and prepare it for occupancy. A personal assistant will also pack bags and be available to unpack and arrange for laundry services both at the destination and when the family arrives home.

*Plan events for their employer. This can include both business dinners for five as well as birthday parties for 25 four-year-olds.

*Oversee the home office, pay and file bills and invoices, handle the household mail and see that it is distributed properly. If the employer is active in social circles, the assistant will also send and receive invitations and thank you notes.

*Handle public relations if the client has a high public profile.

*Keep a private contact database up to date. This used to mean keeping a Rolodex or address book, but is now usually done with computer programs.

*Run personal errands as necessary.

The salary for a personal assistant will vary depending on qualifications and years of experience. Salaries can range from $25,000 to $120,000 per year.

Normally, personal assistants do not live in with families, but will often accompany them on vacations or travel ahead to prepare a vacation home for their arrival. If you think you might need a part-time personal assistant, many offer services to more than one family at a time on a rotating basis. The best way to hire an assistant is to work with one of the many reputable agencies that are all over the country. They will perform background checks and offer many satisfaction guarantees, so it is much safer than trying to hire on your own.

Do You Want To Be a Personal Assistant?Maybe helping families organize their busy lives is appealing to you. If you are well organized and personable, a job as a personal assistant might be a good fit. You can either apply to a personal-assistant agency that helps clients find the best assistant for their families or start your own personal-assistant business. Starting your own company is a good way to go if you want to work hourly, and help more than one family at a time. You can advertise a list of services such as errands, shopping, scheduling and bill paying, and bill your clients by the hour.

A good personal assistant needs to have some specific qualities and skills to succeed.

Some of these can be learned, but many must be innate. If you are thinking about making this your career, see if you have most, if not all, of these qualities:

*Availability. Because an assistant has to be available to travel or for late night parties, you must have a fairly clear schedule. Just as it is not a 9 to 5 job, it is often significantly more than a 40-hour workweek. Someone with his or her own family is not a good candidate.

*College degree. Most employers will want at least some sort of college education. Agencies will often require a B.A. or a B.S. degree.

*Computer literate. Because so much of family life revolves around the computer, you should be literate in the most popular computer programs and be able to use a computer schedule.

*Strong communication and people skills. You are representing your clients, so you should be able to communicate effectively with all sorts of people. In a larger household, you should be able to get along well with the rest of the domestic staff.

*Work independently. You should be able to handle things on your own with a minimum of direction. If your client has to constantly monitor your work, you won’t be an asset.

*Business knowledge. Much of what you will do revolves around scheduling and budgeting, so prior experience in a business environment is a plus.

*Polished appearance. Because you will be in a variety of settings, from the home to a formal dinner party, you should always look professional.

*Ethical. The ability to be discreet is one of the most important aspects of the job. You will be dealing with every aspect of the family’s life, including the financial and the personal. Many personal assistants are employed by celebrities and wealthy families who will insist that you maintain their privacy. A lack of discretion in any instance will immediately damage your reputation and limit your job prospects.

A personal assistant does much more than answer fan mail and schedule press conferences. Modern assistants help wealthy families with almost every aspect of their day-to-day lives. As our lives get more complicated, having someone take care of the minute details is becoming more and more valuable. A good assistant will have wide-ranging knowledge and the employer’s complete trust as he or she places the intimate details of the entire family into their hands. If you choose to become a personal assistant, the hours can be difficult and the tasks varied, but you could be rewarded with gourmet meals, luxury travel and access to a lavish lifestyle.

Are You Ready To Work From Home?Many people dream of doing work from home. No fussy suits, no long commutes and best of all, flexible hours. Work-from-home jobs are getting more and more common, with companies more willing to employ off-site workers. Despite the perks, many work-from-home moms find that it does not solve all of their childcare issues. Maybe you want to work from home, but aren't sure if you're ready. Take this work-from-home test to find out if it is a good option for you.